Apparatus for imparting oscillating motions to rotating fans



1,634,140 June 1927' J. N. GILBERT APPARATUS FOR IMPARTING oscnmwme MOTIONS TO ROTATING FANS Filed July s. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l F39. I. F ,2

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June 28, 1927.

J. N. GILBERT APPARATUS FOR IMPARTING OSCILLATING MOTIONS TO ROTATING FANS Filed July 5, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wwwas'srzs INVENHTQR.

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Patented June 28, 1927.

JOSEPH N. GILBERT, F GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA.

APPARATUS FOR TMPARTING OSGILLATING MOTIONS. TO' ROTATING Application filed. July 3, 1926. Serial No. 120,452.

This invention relates more especially to motor driven fans and has for-its object the following: a gearless oscillator that is adjustable by simple means independent of the speed of motor rotation, over a wide range of oscillating speed, and to any desirable arc of oscillation. Also adjustable ;to various horizontal planes of oscillation which change automatically with the change of direction of oscillation. I

The oscillating motion is imparted bythe unbalanced centrifugal pull of a weight attached by a crank to the rotating fan shaft co-operating with two small ratchets. The first ratchet permits the centrifugal pull to produce motion in one direction but resists motion in the opposite direction. The second ratchet permits and opposesmotion in the reverse directions to the first ratchet. The first ratchet is in action during motion in one direction in the arc of oscillation while the second ratchet is inaction during the reverse direction in the arc of oscillation. The. active ratchet is automatically reversed at e the adjusted end of the arc of oscillation.

The changing of planes of oscillation is accon'iplished by -means applying the gyroscopic principle of precession which require that the fan and the motor frame are free to rotate in the verticalplane about a horizon.- tal axle, within the limits of the adjusted vertical arc. t

The torque-tending to produce rotation in the horizontal plane about the vertical axle, causes a precessional rotation in the. vertical plane, about a horizontal axle to the limit of the set are, while the force tending to produce motion in the. reverse direction in the horizontal plane causes reverse precessional motion in the vertical plane. 7

For a more complete description of my in vention and explanationof the principle of operation, I will refer to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of a fan showing a sectional view of theoscillating device along 0, cl, 6, f, 9, Fig. 2, while Fig. 2 is a part end View ofFig. 1 show: ing a ratchet in contact with a; ratchet slide. Fig. 3 is a sectional viewon line a-b, showing a top viewof the disk to which are attached the ratchet slides. V

Fig. 4 is a modified form of my. invention showing, a different form and a different arrangement of the mechanical'elements cm- Fig. 5 isan end View of Fig. 4.;

and 12 attached to the rotatable vertical axle13, having bearing 14 rotatable vin the bearing hub 15 attached .to vertical support 16 resting on base 17. 5

Attached to the rotatable vertical shaft is the slide disk 18 to which are attached the slides 19 and 20 held in placerespectively by the set screws 21, 22 and 23, 24. Said ratchet slides have raised ends 25and 26. The bearing hub supports the bolt 27 to which is attched the nut 28 holding in place ratchet hub 29 to which is attached the ratchets 30 and 31. Also attached to the ratchet hub by bands 32 and 33 isthe cylinder 34 containing the spheres 35 and 36. The are ofthe elements rotatable in the vertical plane is limited by pins 37 and 38 while set screw 39 clamp s said elementsatany (1B1 sired angular position inthe vertical arc.

Slots;40 and 4 1, 42, 43 inthe slide disk. permit the movement of the setscrews to move, the ratchet slides for the purposeot' adjusting the arc of oscillation.

In Fig. 4 the motor frame 44 supports the rotor shaft.45, to which is keyed the crank 46. on which is the adjustable weight 47, held in placebybolt 48. Also keyed to the rotor shaftis the fan. 49.. To the motor frame is also attached the; adjustable counterweight 50, held in place by the set screw 51. Supporting the .motor frame are the horizontal-axle bearings 52 and 53supported by and rotatablein verticalstandards 54 and 55, att-ached to. the vertical axle 56 having 7 bearing 57.10ta'table in bearing hub 58, sup.- ported by rod 59 resting on base 60.

Attached to the motorframe is the ratchet arc-61 to; which are attached the ratchet slides 62 a-nd 63, heldin placeland adjusts able in angular position by. the set screws- 64'and65 movable. in slots 66 and 67. Supported bythe motor standards-is the ratchet shaft bearing68 having square section extension 69 supporting cylinder hub 7 0,. held in i will place by nut 71 and attached by bands 72 and 73 to cylinder'7t containing spheres 75 and 76. Said ratchet shaft bearing also-has square section extension, 77 supporting ratchet hub 7 8 held in place by nut 79 and supporting ratchets 80 and 81.

The adjustable lugs 82 and 83 limit the are of oscillation by intercepting the pin 8%.

Operal'z'0n-.The operation is as follows: Assume rotation (either clockwise or counterclockwise, Fig. 2) of the axle 2 with its at tached crank l, and weight 5. Theunbalanced centrifugal force of the weight exerts a continuous pull on 2. The direction of the pull at any instant is dependent upon the angular position of 5. At the instant shown the pull is in the direction of the arrow 70. When 5 has rotatedto the diametrically opposite position to that shown, the

pull will be in the reverse direction to arrow h. With ratchet 31 contacting withslide 19,

' all pulls in the reverse direction to 7: are resisted by 31, while the successive unresisted pulls in the direction 70 each produce motion in the direction is. The resultant of these successive movements is counterclockwise rotation (looking in direction of arrow L) of all the elements rotatable about axle 13. As this counterclockwise rotation continues the high end contacts with 31, thereby rotat.

ing 31, hub29 and cylinder 3 1 (see also Fig. 1) clockwise about 27,'until spheres and 36 roll to the right hand end of 34 thereby continuing the clockwise rotation of all rotatable elements about 27 until ratchet 30 contacts with slide 20. Ratchet 3O resists pulls in direction of h but permits motion in the reverse direction to h. The resultant of these successive movements in reverse direc tion to his clockwise motion (looking in direction L) of all the elements rotatable about 13. This clockwise rotation will continue until the high end 26 contacts with 30 which start the counterclockwise rotation about 27, that will again bring 31 in contact with 19, thereby again starting counterclockwise direction of all elements rotatable about 13. The resultant of these successive clockwise and counterclockwise rotations about 13 is an oscillating motion of allthe elements rotatable about 13.

Osez'lla-tz'on in two alternate planes with preeessz'o'nal rotation about the horizontal acole.In explaining the principle of oscillation in two planes I would call attention to the following gyroscopic principle of precession:

Torque tending to rotate a spinning mass about 'an axle perpendicular to the axle of spin, produces precessional rotation about a third axle perpendicular to both the axle of spin and to the axle of applied torque. '(See Dynamics of Rotation by A. M. Worthington, experiment 4:, page 138. Also lower half page 147 and top of page 148.)

In Figs. 1 and 2 assume the clamp 39 released so that all of the elements supported by the axle bearings 9 and 10, are free to r tate in a vertical plane to the limits of the interception of pins 37 and 38.

Also assume axle 2 withits attached elements to be spinning counterclockwise looking in direction of arrow n, Fig. 1. Then, as previously explained, with 31 bearing on 19 the rotation about 13 would becounterclockwise looking in direction of arrows L, Fig. 2, also M, Fig. 1.

The yielding to-the successive pulls that produce this counterclockwise rotation about 13, causes precessional rotation about axle bearings 9 and 10 of all of their supported elements. (See Dynamics of Rotation, last half of page 147 and the two top lines on page 1 18.) This precessional rotation is counterclockwise looking at 10, Fig. 1. (See Dynamics of Rotation rule for direction, page 139.) 'And will continue until 37- is intercepted by 12.

So long as this precessional rotation continues it opposes the yielding to the successive pulls that produce it. But when 12 intercepts 37 and the precessi'onal rotation ceases then the opposition to yielding ceases, and the counterclockwise rotation about 13 proceeds more rapidly and continues until a change of active ratchets, (from 31 to 30) takes place which reverses the direction of rotation about 13, as previously explained.

This reversal of rotation about 13 causes'a reversal of the precessional motion about 9 and 10 which continues until 38 is intercepted by 12, while the rotation about 13 continues until again reversed by a change of active ratchets. (From 30 to 31.) This changing from 37 to 38 in contact with 12 changes the plane in which 2 and its atached elements oscillate, 37 and 38 are adjustable to various angular positions.

Oscillation int alternate planes with preeess'z'onal rotation about the vertical axle- In Fig. 1, assume clockwise rotation of axle 4:5 and its attached elements looking in the direction of arrow R. \Vith ratchet 81 bearing on slide 63,each successive pull of 18 when in the diametrical opposite position to that shown as resisted by 81, while each pull of 48 when in the position shown produces motion. The resultant of these successive pulls being counterclockwise rotation, looking perpendicular to the plane'ot the paper, of all the elements rotatable about 52 and 53. The yielding of the elements rotatable about 52 and 53 to. these successive pulls causes counterclockwise precessional rotation, looking in the direction of the arrow S of all elements rotatable about 56. This precessional rotation about 56 opposes the yielding which produces it. But when 83 intercepts 8a and the precessional rotation about 56 ceases, then will the opposition to yielding cease and the counterclockwise rotation about 52 and 53 will proceed more rapidly, until the high end of '63 contacting with 81, starts counterclockwise rotation, looking perpendicular to the plane of the paper, Fig. 4 of all elements rotatable about bearin 68 (see also Fig. 6).

As this rotation about 68 continues, the spheres 7 and 76-will roll to the left hand end of the cylinder 74, thereby continuing the rotation about 68 until ratchet con-' tacts with slide 62. As previously explained the change of ratchets, changes the direction to the opposition to the centrifugal pull, consequently a change to clockwise rotation about 52 and 53. 7

As previously explained this change in clirection or rotation about 52 and 53 the axle of applied torque causes a change ofldirection about the precessional axle 56 to clockwise (looking in direction arrow S) precessional rotation which continues until 84: is intercept-ed by 82, which incident is as previously explained, followed by achange of ratchets, with a consequent change about the axle of torque and also about the precessional axle.

Having described the mechanical combination of my invention and the operation thereof, I claim: V

1. Means for imparting an oscillating motion to a spinning weight, comprising in combination a spinning axle, a second axle about which said spinning axle is rotatable, a weight unsyinmetrically distributed in relation to the spinning axle and rigidly attached thereto, opposing means that oppose rotation of the spinning axle about said second axle, in clockwise direction only, a second opposing means that oppose rotation about said second axle in counter-clockwise direction only and reversing means alternating the said opposing means at fixed-points in the arc of rotation about said second axle.

2. Means for imparting an oscillating motion to a. spinning fan; comprising in combination a fan attached to a spinning axlehaving an unsymmetrical distribution of weight relative to the axis of spin, a. second axle about which said spinning axle is rotatable, opposing means that opposerotation of said spinning axle about said second axle in clockwise direction, a second opposing means that oppose rotation of said spinning axle about said second axle in counter-clockwise direction and reversing means alternating the said opposing means at fixed points in the arc of rotation about second axle.

3. Means for imparting an oscillating motion to a spinning fan and means for varying the angular distance of the arc of oscillation; comprising in combination, av fan attached to a spinning axle having an unsymmetrical distribution of weight relative to the axis of spin, a second axle about which said spinning. axle is rotatable, opposing means that oppose rotation about said second axle in clockwise direction, a second opposing means that oppose rotation about said second axle in counterclockwise direction,

reversing means alternating said opposing means at fixed points in the arc of rotation about SllClSGCOHCl axle and means varying the relative angular position of said fixed thereby causing an angular difference be tween the planes of the clockwise and the counterclockwise oscillations; comprising in combination a fan attached to a spinning axle having an unsymmetrical distribution of weight relative to the axis of spin, a sec ond axle about which said spinning axle is rotatable, a third axle about which said spinning axle is rotatable, opposing means that oppose rotation about said second axle in clockwise direction, a second opposing means that oppose rotation about said second axle in counterclockwise direction, reversing means alternating the said opposing means at fixed points in the arc of oscillation about said second axle, and means limiting the arc of precessional rotation at fixed points in the arc of rotation about said third axle.

, 5. Means for imparting an oscillating motion to a spinning fan and means of imparting to said spinning fan at the be ginning of the clockwise oscillation, a precessional rotation in one direction in a plane perpendicular to the plane of oscillation and at the beginning of the counterclockwise oscillation a precessional lOtEltlOIl in the reverse to said one direction in the perpendicular plane, thereby causing an angular difference between the planes of the clockwise and the counterclockwise oscillations and means varying said angular difference; comprising in combination a fan attached to a spinning axle having an unsymmetrical distribution of weight relative to the axis of spin, a second axle about which said spinning axle is rotatable, a third axle about which said spinning axle is rotatable, opposing means that oppose rotation about second axle in clockwise direction, a second opposing means that oppose rotation about said second axle in counterclockwise direction, reversing means alternating the said opposing means at fixed points in the are of oscillation about said second axle, means limiting the arc of precessional rotation at fixed points in the arc of rotation about said third axle, and means varying the angular position oi the fixed points in the arc of ro-' tat-ion about said third axle.

6. Means for imparting to a spinning fan a precessional oscillating motion having an angular difi'erence bet-ween the planes of the clockwise and the counterclockwise oscillations; comprising in combination a fan attached to a spinning axle having an unsymmetrical distribution of weight relative to the axis 01 spin, a second axle about which said spinning axle is rotatable, a third axle about which said spinning axle is rotatable, opposing means that oppose clockwise rotation about said third axle, a second opposing means that oppose counterclockwise rotation about said third axle, reversing means alter 4'. Means for imparting to a spinning fan a precessional oscillating motion having an angular difference between the planes of the clockwise and the counterclockwise oscillations and means varying said angular difference; comprisingin combination a fan attached to a spinning axle having an unsymmetrical distribution of weight relativeto the axis of spin, a second axle about Which said spinningaxle is rotatable, a third axle about which said spinningaxle is rotatable, opposing. means that oppose clockwise rotation about said third axle, a second opposing-means that oppose counterclockwise rotation about said third axle, reversing means alternating the said opposing means at fixed points in the arc of rotation about said third axle, means varying the angular position of said fixed points and means limiting the arc of oscillation about said second axle.

JOSEPH N GILBERT. 

